Ngwato vintage music to be played on Khama Day

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Thursday April 22, 2010 00:00

Speaking to Showbiz in an interview yesterday, Kgamane said Bangwato have a rich culture, which just needs to be revived.

'All we need to do is to revisit our past and revive some aspects of our culture and showcase that to other merafe,' said Kgamane. The Kgosi also happens to be the owner of the vintage long play (LP) record that is going to be played on this important day.

The music was recorded in pre-independence Shoshong by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).Side A of the album kicks-off with a Setswana lullaby, Nnana O Lela Jang? The song is followed by what the SABC labelled an 'occult' song called Sewaledi o a lela. This term 'occult' seems to suggest that the song was sung during religious festival. The San of Shoshong contributed the festal songs that follow, namely Dukurukudumbu, Ihe and Namata xudu. The last tracks on Side A are two 'threshing songs', Mmemogolo Ga Ana Kobo and Mme Ga A Bone sang by the Bangwato of Shoshong.

Side B of the album opens with a skipping song Tlaba Tlabang Le Melapo, which is followed by yet another skipping song Moleelejane. The third track in the album is Modikano, a Tswana game song followed Bulang Dikgoro, which is a song often sung to welcome a bride at her in-laws' place. Pula E Nole Seobe, one of the most popular ever rain songs comes after Bulang Dikgoro.

The last track, Shoshong Special is played by artists only known as Motlhanka and Obonye using the penny-whistle and ukulele. One can safely assume that the 'penny-whistle' mentioned here is likely to be a traditional instrument that looks like a flute.

Kgamane said that although he wished Bangwato could have easy access to this vintage album, he could not record and supply it since he feared that the copyright might still be with the SABC. He also mentioned that at some point, he had another record that contains dikoma sung by Ngwato men of yesteryears, which he says he has unfortunately misplaced. He has sought the help of a former Radio Botswana (RB) employee to see if he could help him find a similar record so that if it is found, he could train some Bangwato men to sing old dikoma songs on the day.

'The songs in that album contains dikoma by the Bangwato men, but interestingly, some of the songs in the album are sang by other Setswana-speaking like the Bakgatla,' Kgamane said.   Sir Seretse Khama Day is observed nationally every year on July 1,   which is the birthday of the founding president. Kgamane said that they as the Bangwato wanted to make the day extra-special since Khama was also the Kgosikgolo of the Bangwato. He said that his people intend to make the day better each year.